Ignition breaker contact device



22, 1950 R. E. PHELON 2,519,976

IGNITION BREAKER CONTACT DEVICE Filed Feb. 28, 1948 4 I! INVENTOR RUSSEL L E. PHEL 0N A T TORNE Y Patented Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IGNITION BR n eR CONTACT DEVICE Russell- E. Phelon,.West Springfield, Mass.. applieation Eebruary 28, 19.48, SeriaIiNo. 11,882.

5101mm. I (01. zoo-.30)

The invention relates to an: ignition contact breaker device particularly?adapted for use in a high tension magneto.

One of the objects of theinvention isto provide a breaker device of the'type: referred to having a leaf spring for biasing the breaker arm and having a simple and effective connection for the. anchored end of the spring.

Another object of the invention is to provide, a

breaker of the type referred to having a leaf spring for biasing the breaker arm and having the spring so connected and arranged that itze'f fectively serves to hold the breaker armagainst forward movement.

Still another object of the. invention is to provide a breaker device of thetype referred to which is adapted for angular adjustmentand which is constructed to facilitate such adjustment.

Still other objects of the invention will be apparent fromv the drawing and from the following specification and claims.

In thedrawing I have shown indetail a pre.-. ferredembodiment. of the invention, butit will be understood that various changesmaybemade from the construction shown,and that the. drawingis not to be construed asv defining'or limiting the. scope of the invention, the claimsforming a" part of this specificationbeing relied upon for that purpose.

' In the drawing;

1 is a C bined frontand sectional view of a high tension magneto provided with a breaker contact device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fe. 1 and showing the,

breaker contact device.

Fig. 3. is a side view of the breaker contact.

device, the frame of the magneto being in section along the said line 23-2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the, carrying; plate of the device and of the parts rigidly connected' t on f h Pa s hqwh" i s i w. how ng t ng rior o the final o mihe he eaf- Fi'g. 91s a view similar'to Fig. 8' but showing 2 the spring in its final position with respect to the breaker arm;

Fig. 1' of the drawing shows a contact breaker device embodying the invention and also a high tension magneto with which the device may be used. The magneto as shown is the same as that set forth in my copending application for High Tension Magneto, Serial No. 676,413, filed June 13, 1946, now Patent 2,472,313, issued June 7, 1949. This particular type of magneto has been selected merely for purposes of illustration and the present invention is not in any way limited to a contact'bre'a'ker device for use in combination with a magneto of this particular type.

The magneto as shown has a stationary frame or support to provided with a bearing for a rotatable shaft l2. Mounted on the frame or support In by means of screws M, M is a core structure which comprises a magnetic core preferably laminated and shaped to provide three circularly spaced poles l6, ['8 and 29 having arcuate faces. which are concentric with the axis of the shaft l2 and equi-distant therefrom. The center pole ll; of the core is provided with a primary coil 22' and with a secondary coil 24. The primary coil 22 is suitably grounded as for instance by being connected with one of the screws [4. The ungrounded end of the primary coil is connected by means of an insulated conductor 26 with the breaker contact device to be described in detail. The secondary coil 24 is suitably grounded as for instance by being connected with the same screw 14 which is used for grounding the primary coil. The secondary coil is provided at its ungrounded end with an insulated conductor (not shown) which may be connected to the spark plug of an engine.

Carried by the rotatable shaft 12 and rotatable therewith is a field structure which includes an annular flange 28 of magnetic material, this flangesurrounding the core structure which has been described. Secured to the inner face of the annular flange- 2-8 are two permanent magnets 30 and 32 which are oppositely charged radially. The magnets 30 and'32 respectively carry pole pieces 34 and 36, the inner faces of which are concentric withthe axis of the shaft and are so spaced therefrom as to'be adapted to move in close proximity to the outer faces of the poles l6, l8 and 29 of the core structure. The said permanent magnets 35} and 32 cooperate with the annular flange 28 and with the pole pieces 34 and 36 to provide a magnetic. circuit having inner pole faces of opposite polarity.

When the shaft [2 and the field structure carried thereby are rotated the magnetic flux in the central pole l8 of the core is suddenly reversed with a resultant high voltage in the primary coil 22. At the instant of maximum voltage, the electrical circuit through the primary coil 22 is broken by the breaker contact device, with a resultant high voltage in the secondary coil 24.

The breaker device to which the invention relates comprises a carrying plate 38 on which the other parts of the breaker device are mounted. Connected With the plate 38 is a pin #86 having a front pivot portion of uniform diameter. The

pivot pin 48 has a portion of reduced diameter which extends through and fits an aperture in. the plate 38, a portion of the pin being swaged over below the plate 38 to engage it',and firmly hold the pin in place. A portion 42 of the pin 40 projects at the rear and fits a bearing aperture in the frame or support It, the said portion 42 thus constituting a pivot about which'the plate 38 and the parts carried thereby can be angularly adjusted. The plate 38 has two arcuate slots 44, 44 through which extend screws 46 and 48. The screws extend beyond the plateand enter threaded holes in the frame or support 19 and thus serve to hold the carrying plate in place and in face to face engagement with the said frame or support. A normally stationary contact is supported on the carrying plate, an integral portion 52 of the said plate being bent forward to support the contact.

A rocker or breaker arm 54 is provided, this being formed of insulating material and'being provided with a bearing aperture which receives and fits the pivot pin it. One or more washers, 56 are provided for separating the breaker arm 54 from the carrying plate 38. The breaker arm 54 carries a contact 58 which is movable into and out of engagement with the stationary contact 55. The breaker arm has an extension 60 which is engageable with a cam 82 on the shaft I2, the said cam cooperating with the extension 60 to rock the breaker arm. A leaf spring 64 is. rigidly connected 'at its upper end with the breaker arm 54 and is electrically connected with the contact 58 thereon. The lower end of th spring 64 is anchored to the carrying plate 38 so that the spring serves to bias the breaker arm for movement in the clockwise direction, that is, in the direction to engage the contact 58 with the contact 56. The cam 62 moves the breaker arm in the opposite direction to overcome the bias of the spring and to separate the contact 58 from the contact 50. r 1

The before-mentioned screw 46 is utilized to hold the lower or fixed end of the spring 64 and the said spring is provided with a loop 66 which surrounds or substantially surrounds the screw. Fig. '7 shows the spring 64 in its unflexed position, and it will be understood that upon assembly the spring is flexed from the position shown in Fig. '7 to the position shown in Fig. l.

The spring 64 is insulated from the screw 46 and also from the carrying plate 38. As shown there is an insulating bushing 58 which surrounds the screw 46 and which is within the loop 66 of the spring. The said bushing preferably has an integral flange 15 at the top thereof. An insulating washer E2 is provided between the rear side of the spring loop and the front face of the carrying plate. It will be seen that when the screw 45 is tightened it serves not only to I secure the carrying plate 38 to the frame but an ers also to clamp and firmly hold the looped end of the spring.

One or more electric terminals are electrically connected with the spring adjacent the looped end thereof and preferably there are two such terminals 14 and 16. As shown, the terminal '14 is connected with the aforesaid wire 26 and the terminal 16 is connected with a wire 18 connected with a condenser 86. The terminals 14 and 16 are preferably located at the front of the loop 66 of the spring and each of them has a fiat portion which is apertured to receive the insulating bushing 68. Preferably a metallic washer 82 is provided between the head of the screw 46 and the flange ID of the insulating bush ing and a second metallic washer 84 is provided between the lower terminal 16 and the front edgeof the spring-loop. From the foregoing it also presses the terminals and T6 and the washer 84 against the said loop of the spring,

thus insuring good electrical contact between the spring and the terminals.

Inasmuch as the front portion of the pin 40 g is of uniform diameter throughout, the breaker arm 54 is free to move forward on the said pivot pin except as restrained bythe spring '64.

In order that the spring 64 may more effectivelyhold the breaker arm and prevent forward move- T ment thereof, the upper face of the washer12' is at such a level that when the screw 46 is" tightened the spring is flexed rearward so as to' bias or press the breaker arm' in the rearward direction and thus effectively prevent any possible forward movement thereof. The upper face of the Washer 12 is at a lower level than V the upper face of the washers 55, this result 72 somewhat thinner than the washers 56.

being preferably attained b making the washer In order that the spring 64 may effectively serve as already described to hold the breaker arm against forward movement and to press it in the rearward direction, it is necessary that the upper end of the spring be very rigidly connected with the breaker arm so as to prevent any possible relative pivotal movement. Preferably and as shown the contact 58 is in the form of a headf on a contact element 85 which extends through? In order to prevent relative pivotalfmove'ment' about the contact element'85 the end portion of the spring extends beyond theendof the breaker arm and is reversely folded-as indicated at 88. The end portion of the breaker arm is beveled as shown more clearly in Figs. 8 and 9. When the spring and the breaker arm are first assembled the looped or folded portion 88-of the spring is shaped approximately as shown in Fig. 8. Then the said looped or folded portion is subjected to pressure so as to force it to the.

shape shown inFig. 9. The edge of the spring is thus forcibly pressed against the beveled end of the breaker arm, so as to firmly hold the spring and arm in fixed relationship and so as to prevent any possible pivoting about the cone.

tact element 86.

It has already been stated that the carrier plate 38 is pivotally movable about the pivot pin extension 42. By angularly adjusting the carrier plate the extent of move nt, 9f the g l rg w after the adjustmenthas beenjmade.

-"I-'o facilitate adjustment; the carrier plate preferably has a notch 9fl-thereiri andtwo pins 9- 2f, 92- arprovided on the frame or support; immediatelyadjacent-the notchf Whenth car; rier plateis to be adjusted-a suitable tgol such as a screw driver can be inserted between the pins 92, 92 and into the notch 90. Then, with the screws 46 and 48 loosened, the carrier plate can be adjusted by moving the screw driver or other tool in one direction or the other as required.

What I claim is:

1. In an ignition breaker contact device, the combination of a carrying plate, a contact in fixed position on the plate, a breaker arm of insulating material pivoted for oscillatory movement about an axis perpendicular to the plate, a contact on the breaker arm movable into and out of engagement with the fixed contact, a headed screw extending through an aperture in the plate and adapted to enter a threaded hole in a support to secure the plate tothe support, a leaf spring rigidly secured at one end to the breaker arm and having electrical connection with the contact thereon which spring has a loop at its other end at least partly surrounding the screw between the head thereof and the plate so that the looped end of the spring is clamped when the screw is tightened, the said spring serving to bias the breaker arm in the contact engaging direction, insulation between the looped end of the spring and the body of the said screw and between the said looped end and the plate, and an electric terminal electrically connected with the spring adjacent the looped end thereof.

2. In an ignition breaker contact device, the combination of a carrying plate, a contact in fixed position on the plate, a breaker arm of insulating material pivoted for oscillatory movement about an axis perpendicular to the plate, a contact on the breaker arm movable into and out of engagement with the fixed contact, a headed screw extending through an aperture in the plate, a leaf spring rigidly secured at one end to the breaker arm and having electrical connection with the contact thereon which spring has a loop at its other end at least partly surrounding the screw between the head thereof and the plate so that the looped end of the spring is clamped when the screw is tightened, the said spring serving to bias the breaker arm in the contact engaging direction, insulation between the looped end of the spring and the body of the said screw and between the said looped end and the plate and between the said looped end and the head of the said screw, and an electric terminal interposed between the last said insulation and the looped end of the spring, the said terminal being clamped against the outer edge of the said looped end of the spring to provide electrical connection with the said spring.

3. In an ignition breaker contact device, the combination of a carrying plate, a contact in fixed position on the plate, a breaker arm of insulating material pivoted for oscillatory movement about an axis perpendicular to the plate, a contact on the breaker arm movable into and out of engagement with the fixed contact, a headed screw extending through an aperture in the plate and projecting beyond the plate and adapted to enter a threaded hole in a support .5, and 48 are loosened andare again ecur he nletg re a ncasement with, he eap rt ea er es; i dly ecured.

ahqee nd 9-, he; real ee m an .s. trical nwitb ...,QQ;Wllik spring has a loop at its other end at least partly surrounding the screw between the head thereof and the sa hat he qeeedend h sprin is clamped when the screw is tightened, the said spring serving to. bias. thelbreaken arm-1m the contact engaging direction, insulation between the looped end of the spring and the body of the screw and between the said looped end and the plate and between the said looped end and the head of the said screw, and an electric terminal interposed between the last said insulation and the looped end of the spring, the said terminal being clamped against the outer edge of the said looped end of the spring to provide electrical connection with the said spring.

4. In an ignition breaker contact device, the combination of a carrying plate, a contact in fixed position on the plate, a pivot pin fixed to the plate with its axis perpendicular thereto, the portion of the pin at the front of the plate being of uniform diameter, an oscillatory breaker arm of insulating material having a bearing aperture fitting the pivot pin, a contact on the breaker arm movable into and out of engagement with the fixed contact, a headed screw extending through an aperture in the plate, a leaf spring rigidly secured at one end to the breaker arm and having electrical connection with the contact thereon which spring has a loop at its other end at least partly surrounding the screw between the head thereof and the plate so that the looped end of the spring is clamped when the screw is tightened, the said spring serving to bias the breaker arm in the contact engaging direction, insulation between the looped end of the spring and the screw, insulation between the said looped end and the plate and having its upper face at such a level that upon tightening of the screw the spring is flexed rearward to press the breaker arm rearward, and an electrical terminal electrically connected with the spring adjacent the looped end thereof.

5. In an ignition breaker contact device, the combination of a carrying plate, a contact in fixed position on the plate, a pivot pin fixed to the plate with its axis perpendicular thereto, the portion of the pin at the front of the plate being of uniform diameter, an oscillatory breaker arm of insulating material having a bearing aperture fitting the pivot pin, a headed screw extending through an aperture in the plate, a contact element extending through a portion of the breaker arm and having a head constituting a contact movable into and out of engagement with the fixed contact, a leaf spring engaging at one end with the breaker arm and having an aperture through which the contact element extends so that the head of the said element holds the spring in place which spring has a reversely folded portion beyond the end of the breaker arm which is forcibly pressed against the said end of the said arm to prevent pivotal movement of the spring about the contact element, the said spring having a loop at its other end at least partly surrounding the screw between the head thereof and the plate so that the looped end of the spring is clamped when the screw is tightened and the said spring serving to bias the breaker arm in the contact engaging direction and also serving to prevent the said arm from moving forward along the pivot pin, insulation between the looped end of the spring and the said screw and between l STATESQKPA'W f l e V the said looped end and the plate, and an electric i 'i. f Name' Date terminal electrically connected with the spring 5- 7 7 3 .5 5 Q 10 93 adjacent the looped end there0f- 1:831:184 4 i gmnbrgr Nov.'10, 1931 RUSSELL E, PHELON, 5 $066,069 Ehrlich Dec. 29, 1936 7 2,115,462 Hittle Apr. 26, 1938 v REFERENCES CITED I 2,290, Q78 Thomas 1. July 14,1942 The following references are of record in the 2306549 Lows 1942 file of "this patent: 4 w Jam 27-1948 

